Foursquare ITP developed best practices for implementing, operating, promoting, and funding microtransit in the Baltimore region, including coordination between jurisdictions and agencies. As a regional entity, Balitmore Metropolitan Council (BMC) wanted to help local jurisdictions and transit operators answer the common questions surrounding microtransit, such as “Is microtransit the ‘right’ service?,” “How does microtransit integrate with other modes?,” and “How should my agency design microtransit service and structure a clear procurement?” We created a comprehensive how-to guide for all things microtransit to aid the region in making those decisions.
We put together a stylized, user-friendly Microtransit Guidebook that meets each local jurisdiction where they are today—whether they are interested in understanding if microtransit is the right service or whether they already have microtransit service and want to understand how to enhance its performance. The Guidebook topics were directed by the steering committee’s needs and interests and include references to case studies and other best practice resources.
The Microtransit Guidebook is now a go-to resource for BMC’s local jurisdictions and transit operators, allowing them to understand what works best for them and creating a context-sensitive approach to microtransit planning. The Microtransit Guidebook and other supportive deliverables were especially helpful for Harford County that they asked Foursquare ITP to continue their microtransit planning work through an additional effort aimed at launching services in the specific areas identified through the study.
Solutions and Outcomes
- Microtransit Context Report: Developed to understand what microtransit services existed, who needed service most and to where, and where microtransit might be a better transportation solution than fixed-route transit.
- Enhancement Opportunities Report: Identified specific areas where microtransit would likely be successful and identified a use case for each preliminary zone. Investigated opportunities related to policy, procurement, training, and data reporting coordination.
- Case Studies Report: Investigated 12 peer agencies from five different regions across the US with characteristics similar to the Baltimore region.